WWE Network

The SmarK Rant for Edge & Christian Episodes 5 & 6

The SmarK Rant for Edge & Christian’s Show That Reeks of Awesomeness – Episodes 5 & 6

A reader asks…

“Please pull yourself out of 1999 to review the most ridiculous episode of E&C ever uploaded to Vince McMahon’ interwebs. So many insane gags I don’t even know where to begin. Beth deserves an Emmy.”

This is a complete departure, so let’s see if reviewing these shows on their own instead of part of the Hidden Gems for the week works or what. January has been kind of a shit month for ad revenue anyway so it’s worth a try. As always, I’m sure my readership will let me know if it’s not working.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for Edge & Christian Episodes 5 & 6

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems (and Other Stuff)–12.18.18

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – 12.18.18

Damn! Although Andy PG already claimed Christmas Star Wars, there’s been no shortage of awesome added in the past few days. So let’s check out some classic Christmas night matches from the AWA in 1981 as a part of the WWE Network’s 12 Days of Hidden Gems!

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems (and Other Stuff)–12.18.18

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–12.13.18

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems (and Other Stuff) – 12.13.18

Only one new gem this week, but it’s a doozy. Although not particularly hidden since it was already on a DVD release last year. Plus of course, the “other stuff” I’ve been reviewing for the past two weeks. Pitter patter, let’s get at ‘er.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–12.13.18

The SmarK Rant for WWE Starrcade 2018–11.25.18

The SmarK Rant for WWE Starrcade 2018 – 11.25.18

Gotta love WWE still burying poor WCW 18 years later, taking their biggest show, which was the precursor for Wrestlemania, and burying it as a house show and afterthought taped one hour show.

Taped from Cincinnati, OH

Your hosts are Tom Phillips and Byron Saxton

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Starrcade 2018–11.25.18

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–Survivor Series Showdown 93–11.21.93

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – Survivor Series Showdown 93 – 11.21.93

Taped from whatever high school gym they were taping TV at that week.

Your hosts are Vince McMahon & Bobby Heenan, plus Gorilla Monsoon & Jim Ross. TWO HIGH SCHOOL GYMS. That’s a big show!

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–Survivor Series Showdown 93–11.21.93

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Old School–Maple Leaf Gardens 04.21.85

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Old School – Maple Leaf Gardens 04.21.85

Hey, my special “Not RAW or Nitro or Smackdown” week continues as I explore the territories in the mid-80s. This morning it’s a show from Maple Leaf Gardens in the thick of Hulkamania.

Taped from Toronto, ON

Your hosts are Jack Reynolds & Jesse Ventura

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Old School–Maple Leaf Gardens 04.21.85

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–Million Dollar Man Collection!

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Collections – Million Dollar Man: Priceless

Today is normally Smackdown day, but I was kind of in the mood for something completely different, so here’s a shitload of Ted Dibiase matches I haven’t covered before! I don’t know if I’ve mentioned lately how amazing that the WWE Network is for the times when I just want to review something, but it’s pretty amazing. What I should really do is redo SuperClash III so I can continue ragging on the dying AWA, but that’s a project for another day.

Ted introduces the collection, and pays off an intern who is setting up The Virgil Collection so he can take it over. It appears to be a single t-shirt. Poor Virgil. Hopefully he too gets a collection.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–Million Dollar Man Collection!

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems (and Other Stuff)–11.02.18

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems (and Other Stuff) – 11.02.18

Well, this week will be what you call “an eclectic mix”.

First up, the Hidden Gems! And to get you hyped for watching Crown Jewel over and over on the Network, it’s some DX v. Undertaker content!

Oh yeah, and another thing.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems (and Other Stuff)–11.02.18

The SmarK Rant for The Last Battle of Atlanta–10.23.83

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – THE LAST BATTLE OF ATLANTA!

Man, I know people have been saying we need more Georgia Championship Wrestling on the Network, but HOLY SHIT. So yeah, a couple of months back someone realized that they actually had the tape of the famous Buzz Sawyer v. Tommy Rich cage match in an unlabeled pile of master tapes, and decided to put that match up on the Network as a “hidden gem”. So now, just to be even more crazy awesome, I guess they figured “Fuck it, let’s put the ENTIRE SHOW on the Network”. John McAdam probably could have put his kids through college if he had this back in the early 90s when tape trading was a thing.

Taped from Atlanta, GA (duh), 10.23.83. No commentary for this.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for The Last Battle of Atlanta–10.23.83

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–10.09.18

The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – 10.09.18

As promised, we’ve got some SHOOTER themed Hidden Gems this week, although I’m not really sure what the tie-in would be. Dean Malenko’s birthday? Who knows. And of course, a special bonus at the end that people have been bugging me for.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–10.09.18